Mprovement in explosive compounds



UNITED STATES PArE'NT' OFFICE;

,itrnnn NOBEL, or HAMBURG GERMANY, ASSIGNOR TO "THE GIANT rowonu COMPANY AND THE ATLANTIC GIANT-POWDER COMPANY,

on, v m A women n A nIFons'I'A.

Specification forming part or MULLEXS ratent No. 141,455, dated August 5, 1873; application nieo J one 4, 1873.

To all whom it may concern;

ie it known that I, ALFRED NOBEL, of the city of Hamburg, Germany, have invented a new and useful Explosive Compound and 1 do hereby declare that the following is a correct description of the composition thereof:

1 have in former specifications, on which Letters Patent have been granted to me, described the use and eii'ect of the mixing of nitro-glyceriue with other explosives, such as gunpowder, gun-cotton, &c., and also the mixing of nitro-glycerine with non-explosive substances capable of absorbing the nitroglyceriuc, and have described the advantages obtained from such mixturcsin greatly increasing the explosive power-of such explosives, and in doing away with the extreme danger of handling nitro-glycerinc in a-liquid condition, and the facilitating of its use for blasting purposes.

My present invention relates to mixture with nitro-glyeerine of a pulverized nitrate (such as the nitrates of soda, potash, baryta, or lead,) and a pulverized carbon or hydrooal-hon, such as coal, resin, sugar, starch, &c.,

with or without the addition of,pulvcri zed sulphur, whereby a powerful explosive comound is produced, which may be handled with safety, and which, when not under strong restraint, will burn under the application of tire, but without explosion.

In describing the proportion of the several ingredients to he used in making my improved compound I dcsirenot to limit myself to thcexact proportion herein specified, for the meason that the proportions of niter and carbonor hydrocarbon used,as well as of the nitro-glycerinc, may be greatly varied with no other material differences of result than an increase or decrease of explosive power, and a greater or less degree cl" moistureor pastiness in the mass.

The proportions which. I shall proceed to specify will tl iereiore serve as a type, from which such variations may he made as the strength of explosive required and the warmth of climate in which it. is to be used may dictate. I take seventy parts, by

weight, of pulverized nitrate of soda; ten parts, by weight, of pulverized resin; twenty parts, by weight, of nitro-glyceriue, and uiixtheui thoroughly, so that, as far as pos sible, each separate particle of the pulverized solid ingredients may have a coating of nitro-glyccrine.

,To the above-named ingredients may be added from five to eight parts of flour sulphur, which will be found to 'increase its effect.

Instead of the nitrate of soda, either of the nitrates of potash, baryta, or lead may be employed, and, instead. of resin, other carbons and hydrocarbons, as eoahsugar, starclnwobd, charcoal, &c.,1uay he: used. If coal is, employed, such as contains the greatest proportion of hydrogen answers the best for this purpose. 7 N i It should be observed that the amount of nitro-glyceriue which can be retained by the other ingredients will depend upon the degree of fineness to'which-they are pulverized, and will vary with the ingredients used, and also with the temperature of the atmosphere; and that'if the nitro-glyceriue is in excess, so that it will run out when the, mixture has been allowed to stand, it'is thereby rendered dangerous. It is better, therefore, to keep the amount of nitro-glycerine within the maxi mum which the dry ingredients will hold.

The above compound is a powerful explosive, audmay be .used either loose or in wrappings, or cartridges of metal, paper, &c., as may be desired.

'lo effect the explosion of this compound a tube or cap containing fulminate of menonly or other suitable detonating'substauce,

and affixed to the end of a fuse, is inserted in i the charge of the above-described compound, the fuse being fired in the usual way, or, if preferrcd,the cap inserted in the compound may be fired by electricity without a fuse.

The explosion of the fuhui'nate will eflcct 2 I o mums the explosion of my improved.explosivepoM sive compound, substantially as hereinbefore pound. described.

What I claim as my invention, and desire In witness whereof I have hereunto set my to-seeure by Letters Patent is hand. The composition ii/matter hereinbefore set ALFREDNOBEL.

' forth, consisting of nitrate of'soda and resin, In presence of us:

'01 their equivalents, with or without sulphur, UH- F. GAUTINS,

mixed with nitro-glycerine,:ts a new explo- O. ZANDER. 

